Books: The Fools of History

It used to be democratic dogma that revolutions were a good thing. "The
tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of
patriots and tyrants," said Jefferson. But the tree of liberty has
fared poorly in the blood baths of this century. The grim example of
the Bolshevik and other revolutions has caused political theorists to
take a second look at revolutions.

Political Philosopher Hannah Arendt, 56, concludes flatly that, when
possible, they should be avoided. Violent change plows under more
liberties than...